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Light and variable wind with frequent trips to 0 wind really sucks. If the wind cycles last 20 minutes, that's not too bad and a standard Exile may be good enough, but flying down to 2 mph with a standard, in an accomplished flyers hands, isn't good enough to be fun form many flyers.

If your winds are like here, you'll be on the ground 50% - 75% of the time with a standard. You'll be working your tush off a good deal of the time while the kite is in the air.

If the wind cycles last 5 minutes and range 0-3 mph, that really really really sucks on a standard kite. The only thing worse is days it short cycles 0-12 mph, since no one kite handles the entire range well.

An Exile UL compared to a standard one will add more flying time on days you have short wind cycles and an low wind range. If it's hot and 1 mph one doesn't want to be working too hard to keep a kite in the air. A UL takes work at 1 mph, but a lot less than a standard, and with a lot more quality time while in the air.

Having not flown either Exile or Exile UL, you can take my opinion with a grain of salt. However, I do know light and variable winds with frequent trips to 0 mph. A UL/SUL will put a bigger on your face, no matter who makes it. If you don't have a UL/SUL in your bag now, you'll be doing yourself a disservice (sp or is it even a word?) buying another standard kite.

Oz, there are some side benefits to this kite. I posed the question on the old board, I was looking for a kite that had a good mix of precision and tricking, had a mix of new school and a bit of old school, something that would do flat axels for example. The overwhelming response was the Exile. I've had it since Christmas and really like it alot. The low wind capabilities are just a bonus for me. You're looking for a low wind kite, so all the other stuff would be a bonus for you. The Shadow is a nice kite, but as has been stated, it has alot of oversteer, at least in my hands, which can be overcome as has been also stated. The build quality of the Exile is Benson like, it's a really nice all round kite.

Glen,I have an Exile STD and let me assure you, you will not find a better built kite anywhere. I can't remember what mine is framed in, I'd have to look. I think Nitro LE and Black Diamond LS. Does that sound right?

Anyway, great looking, great flying kite with a world of attention to detail. Just look at the thoughtful way the pocket is sewn for the removable tail piece to facilitate adding and removing weights. Ken didn't have to do that. It delights me, however, everytime I look at mine that he did. Here's a picture of mine with some summer flowers.

When the winds are low I fly these three kites in progression as the wind builds up from 0.5 mph to 5-6 mph:

1- Benson Inner Space2- Sea Devil SUL3- Q-Pro SUL

I have the Exile UL in my bag but 1-3 will guarantee air time - EVERY TIME. The Sea Devil SUL grabs more air than the Q-Pro SUL but for wahtever reason it can do JL's easier. I still have not explored the Exile UL enough. Its worth the money and cheaper than the SD-SUL. I like the Zephyr but I agree with that description - its a light Standard or a full UL - not a SUL.

g,day matethanks for your reply.i tell ya the winds are really crap here where i live inland 30 km from any water/sea,up and down here.wind direction changes from east thru to west while i was flying this afternoonits crazy,really sh#its me i tell ya.so i really hope my new kite i get which you guys have suggested stays in the air with good speed.iv made all bridle changes,wind settings on stand offs,still crap,even removed top spreader.cheersglen

If the wind is sufficiently bad then no kite, no matter how good, no matter how close to being The MessiahKite™ is going to solve the problem. You always need to find good enough wind to feed any kite.

I like to think that I have a little experience with not-suitable-for-kiting winds and there is a point where what's on the end of the lines becomes irrelevant.

So get an Exile UL (or indeed whatever) but don't expect it to solve the problems caused by 180° wind shifts.

wind direction changes from east thru to west while i was flying this afternoon

That's the variable wind world, especially if it does that repeatedly within a two or three hour outing - windshield wiper days. We've had 270 and 360 degree days, but thankfully they are rare.

Those conditions are when a floaty and non-twitchy UL/SUL is needed. The shorter the cycle time from one direction to the other the more frustrating it gets. You need a kite that will buy you time in the air until you can pump it around to the new wind direction. If you are way out of sync with the direction, leave the kite on the ground and walk in an arc, keeping the lines taught so they don't snag on debris, until the kite is more into the wind.

Keep an eye on trees, flags, smoke, dandelion fluff, or other wind indicators in the area. That will help you anticipate direction changes before they arrive at your location. Fudge towards the side of the window the wind is likely to shift towards.

Try to avoid whirl winds; it's best to set down. It's not a fun thrill to get a SUL caught up inside one. You'll have visions of splintered framing and shredded sail running through your head, while trying to work out of it without damage to the billfold. I've been snared twice and lucked out both times, but it's not a pretty sight to witness - especially with an out-of-production Zerostar.

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